DWT careers

"When we hire, the thought is, 'how do we make sure they have a path to partnership?' DWT
focuses on long-term development and success."

Sanjay Nangia
Partner | San Francisco

"The collaboration here makes me love my time at DWT. I can lean on internal resources to
solve complex issues for both clients and colleagues."

Jeff Bosley
Partner | San Francisco

"DWT takes a real interest in developing the whole person, not just the lawyer. They want
to see your full potential."

giancarlo Urey
Counsel | Los Angeles

"DWT is entrepreneurial. We’re given the space to create new ideas for the firm and for the
practice of law."

Wendy Kearns
Partner | Seattle

"There is deep expertise in my practice group and I feel very humble to be part of DWT."

Laura Sack
Partner | New York

Why DWT?

What I like most about DWT is that everyone has interesting lives outside of work;
they are real people who are reasonable about schedules and priorities. At other
firms, the hierarchical roles are often very clear. If you are on the bottom
of the chain, it is expected that you are always available—your schedule is not
your own. This is not the case at DWT. Here it’s acceptable to also be busy with
other things. The first question colleagues ask is “do you have time?”

I was looking for a place where I could do more interesting work and spread my wings.
At DWT, I was in court within the first 18 months and have attended more than
50 depositions so far. Partners are very generous with opportunities; they are
very seasoned and ready to take on mentorship roles.

Secondments Experience:

In January 2015, I worked in-house with a payments client three days a week for three
months, and I continue to do regular work for them on-site. It’s a great opportunity
to be exposed to variety of legal work and to work on projects where you are
working alongside business clients (and in some cases, the only lawyer). It’s
the best of both worlds—some in-house experience alongside rewarding law firm
work.

Sanjay Nangia Partner | SFO
Joined DWT: 2011

Personal goal in 5 years Professionally, I hope to continue to have a vibrant and interesting docket
of cases.

How do you describe your work to a child? I help decide whether the rules are being followed.

If you couldn’t be a lawyer, what would you be?An engineer.

Why DWT?

My favorite part of working at DWT is the culture. It’s collaborative [and] supportive,
and the people truly get it in regards to being client-focused. I like that we
have say in meaningful control over rates and staffing. No barriers and no bureaucracy
here at DWT. I have all the tools I need to serve clients and to find new ones.

This firm is more transparent, especially with financials, than any other law firm
I’ve been at. If you want to have input—build out a team, internal resources—you
will be heard. If you want to contribute, this is the place for you. What made
me comfortable with making a lateral move to DWT was that as I learned about
the practice group strength, the culture, [and] the transparency, I knew my clients
would benefit from all this support and they would get their needs met.

Jeff Bosley Partner | SFO
Joined DWT: 2014

Personal goal in 5 years Proud parent of two college students.

How do you describe your work to a child? I tell stories and solve problems.

If you couldn’t be a lawyer, what would you be?A journalist or screenwriter.

Why DWT?

What I enjoy most about working at DWT are the people—both partners and associates.
They are colleagues as well as friends. I joined as a mid-level associate, very
new to employment litigation, and developed mentor-type relationships with several
partners who helped me get a better understanding of the practice and helped
me grow my career.

The practice of law needs to be a team effort. At DWT, it feels like there is a genuine
interest in getting to know each other. My colleagues, and even the partners,
take the time to get to know me.

At my last firm, I was happy enough with the work I was doing, and I knew if I was
going to make a move it had to be for the right fit. Diversity is very important
to me, and the California office really, actually values diversity. The partners
seemed really nice, [and] I felt very comfortable talking through legal problems
and being heard.

Giancarlo Urey Counsel | LAX
Joined DWT: 2013

Personal goal in 5 years Apparently, the Arctic and the Atlantic Oceans meet, but don’t mix. Within
the next five years, I’d like to scuba dive that location.

How do you describe your work to a child? I work with people and companies to try to help them resolve disagreements
they may have.

If you couldn’t be a lawyer, what would you be? I’d probably be (or try to be) a college professor.

Why DWT?

The firm is supportive of creativity and growth; new ideas are encouraged and rewarded.
Two years ago, a partner and I identified an opportunity in the financial services
industry, so we began a new practice based on this industry need. It has been
very successful, and the work is exciting and fulfilling.

I have opportunities to do a lot of different things; no two days are the same. I
can spend the morning speaking at a conference, negotiating a deal, and [then]
mentor associates in the afternoon. DWT gives us a platform to support all of
that variety. I manage a practice group, and I really enjoy managing people,
but I also like the practice of law, I get to do it all, while also contributing
toward inclusion and diversity efforts. DWT supports my desire and energy to
do a lot of different things for my clients and for myself.

The culture at DWT lends itself to collegiality and to support of both professional
and personal life. Other law firms are very hierarchal, and that can get in the
way of enjoying your colleagues. That’s not the case here—DWT is a pleasant place
to work.

Wendy Kearns Partner | SEA
Joined DWT: 2013

Personal goal in 5 years Finish my many house construction projects.

How do you describe your work to a child? I help make the apps on your mom's phone available to people around the
world.

If you couldn’t be a lawyer, what would you be? A chef.

Why DWT?

Coming to work every day is a pleasure. I’ve worked in a lot of great places, but
this firm feels like home. I’m surrounded by people who are committed to excellence
and collaboration and who value having an enjoyable work environment.

There is deep expertise in my practice group, and I feel very humble to be part of
the group. I’ve had to stretch and push myself to be the best. I want to be the
best, and practicing with the best inspires me to improve. I’m inspired by my
colleagues to stretch and push myself to be the best lawyer I can be.

Laura Sack Partner | NYC
Joined DWT: 2015

Personal goal in 5 years I really love what I do, so my goal in five years is to still be able to
say that I enjoy my job, my colleagues, my clients, and my work, while continuing
to learn and get better at what I do.

How do you describe your work to a child? Probably by using too many big words.

If you couldn’t be a lawyer, what would you be?In 2005-2006, I took a break from the full-time practice of law in order
to do something completely different: I taught a fifth-grade special education
class in a “high-needs” New York City public school. It was an incredibly
rewarding (and challenging!) experience for me, so I can definitely see myself
as a teacher, if this whole lawyering thing doesn’t work out for me.

The DWT Difference

DWT is committed to helping lawyers build successful practices. Our formula for success is “excellence,
focus and innovation,” with a heavy emphasis on client service that earns client loyalty. We
look for lawyers who can help us build top-of-market practices, who put client needs first and
who work well with colleagues. Our core values, which inform decision making throughout the firm,
are to be entrepreneurial, innovative, selfless, inclusive, excellent, open, and supportive.
If you join us, whether as a first-year associate or an experienced partner, we will work closely
with you to ensure you benefit from, and contribute to, our firm as much as possible.

Recognize the profession is changing rapidly and are open to adapting the way they
deliver service to meet changing client needs and expectations

Fit with our core practices and will benefit from and contribute to our platform

How will you help me serve my clients?

We will help you effect a smooth transition so there is minimal disruption for you and your
clients. Once you are here, we will connect you with the right colleagues and firm clients
so your clients can be effectively served, and you can expand your practice. We will
also connect you with a liaison to acquaint you with firm functions and practices, guide
you around the firm, and be a source of institutional knowledge.

I heard you have low attrition rates – is that true?

Yes – that is one of the benefits of our emphasis on finding lawyers who fit. We are proud
of the fact that we lose very few attorneys to other law firms (only 1.6% annually).
Our associate turnover rate is 10.22% which is far lower than the national average of
16% as reported by NALP. Our annual partner turnover rate is an exceptional 3.1%.

What does the partner and counsel recruitment process consist of?

Firmwide partner and counsel opportunities exist at any time depending on the strategic needs
of the firm. If there is interest, we will contact you to arrange a meeting with a hiring
attorney, and from there a full round of interviews may be scheduled with attorneys across
the firm. Once there is mutual agreement to proceed, we will provide you with our Lateral
Partner Questionnaire (LPQ) packet to learn more about your practice and the opportunity
to work together. The LPQ consists of a Due Diligence Questionnaire, Salary & Billing
worksheet, Business Plan, and Conflicts Memorandum. We know how busy you are and we work
with you to streamline the collection of this information. Our ultimate goal is for you
to be successful at DWT in a reasonable period of time.

All firms say they are committed to Diversity & Inclusion – what does DWT do in this
area?

Ensuring that DWT is a diverse place to work and inclusive for all employees is of the utmost
importance at DWT. We have attorneys at all levels serving on our Diversity & Inclusion
Committee where we advance several initiatives. We also have Affinity groups supporting
our Minority, LGBT, Women, and Flexible Hours attorneys. Learn more at our Diversity
site.

How will I be integrated into the firm?

Our lateral integration program helps partners and counsel make a smooth transition to the
firm. As part of the recruiting process, we identify early integration opportunities
and connect you with a Lateral Onboarding & Integration Coordinator to ensure that you
and your clients experience a seamless transition to the firm with minimal disruption.
A formal integration plan will be created by your Practice Group leadership in partnership
with you.

What types of partner benefits does DWT provide?

Annual Bar Dues

Medical, dental and vision plans

Long-term disability insurance

Life insurance

Supplemental life insurance

Long-term care insurance

Supplemental individual disability insurance

Personal accident insurance

Vacation

Sick leave

401(k) tax deferred savings plan

Reimbursement for reasonable client development expenses

Registration and travel expenses for appropriate CLE programs and professional meetings

Flexible spending accounts for medical and transportation costs

Monthly parking or transportation subsidy

Child and elder care

Parental leave

Other pre-approved reimbursable expenses

Who can I contact with additional questions?

Bahareh Samanian is the firm’s Senior Manager of Attorney Recruiting Initiatives and leads
firmwide attorney recruiting with a particular focus on partner and counsel candidates.
If you are a candidate or a search firm seeking to learn more about DWT, please contact
Bahareh at
baharehsamanian@dwt.com or 206.757.8782.

Lateral Associates

What documents are needed to complete my application?

We require a cover letter, resume, a copy of the law school transcript and a brief writing
sample or a deal sheet (depending on practice area).

Do all of the documents need to be provided prior to scheduling an interview?

Having the cover letter, resume and law school transcript is enough at the review stage,
but we would require the writing sample (or deal sheet) prior to scheduling an interview.

What should I expect of the interview process?

For our associate candidates, our interview process consists of the following stages:

Initial Interview: Meet with 1-2 attorneys at a DWT office, if possible;
other accommodations will be made if necessary. This initial meeting typically
takes an hour.

Full Round Interviews: Visit a DWT office to meet with 4-6 additional attorneys
(a mix of partners and associates) including, when possible, the Practice Group
Chair and Partner-In-Charge. These meetings generally take 3-4 hours.

Additional Interviews: In some cases, when key attorneys are not available
during the Full Round, we may ask a candidate to come back for additional interviews
to meet those key people.

Next Steps: If an offer is being considered we collect references and a list
of the candidate’s client/matters to start a conflicts check.

How soon can I expect to hear feedback after the interviews are completed?

The timing of feedback can vary. The Recruiting Managers will keep you updated.

How many references are required and when will they be contacted?

We require 2 to 3 references. One must be a current or direct supervisor, and the other two
can be supervisors who can speak to your work from previous employers. Once an offer
is extended we’ll seek your permission to contact the supervisor(s) who are from previous
employers as soon as we can. Once the offer is accepted and notice is given we will contact
the current employer reference.

What is the annual billable hours standard at DWT?

1800 billable hours.

Does DWT have a lock-step or merit-based system of advancement?

Our advancement system is merit-based. Associates are evaluated annually at year-end.

What types of benefits does DWT provide?

In addition to health, vision, and dental plans, below is a sample of our other benefits:

Bar dues

Life insurance

Supplemental life insurance

Personal accident insurance

Vacation

Sick Leave

401(k) Tax deferred savings plan

Flexible spending accounts for medical and transportation costs

Transportation subsidy

Associate wellness reimbursement

Child and elder care

Parental leave

What training and professional development does DWT offer?

DWT offers both informal and formal training and development, including individual coaching,
mentoring, and career planning. Our learning initiatives are relevant, cutting-edge,
timely and hands-on. We also have a strong belief in on-the-job learning. Our targeted
and multi-faceted learning curriculum enhances lawyer development in key competency areas
as well as practice-specific training. Our attorneys also have access to thousands of
online continuing legal education (CLE) programs and a customized portal of eLearning
materials.

Does DWT have Affinity groups as part of its Diversity & Inclusion program?

Diversity is a core value at DWT. Our affinity group program is instrumental in striving towards our goals to not only create an inclusive environment within DWT, but also to contribute to growing diversity within the legal profession as a whole. Our groups help create opportunities for mentorship, skills training, networking and business development.

Our current affinity groups are:

LGBTQ Attorneys

Diverse Attorneys

Women Attorneys

Senior Attorneys

Veteran Attorneys

Flexible Hours Attorneys

To learn more about our Diversity Initiatives and Affinity Groups, click here

Is pro bono work available at the associate level?

The firm encourages all attorneys and staff to participate in pro bono projects and to contribute
to our tradition as a leader in the communities in which we live. Up to 144 pro bono
hours may be counted toward the automatic bonus which is achieved by billing 1850 economic
hours.